09/06/11
WASHINGTON, DC – As today’s national monthly job numbers showed that unemployment remains stubbornly high, Congressman Dennis Cardoza (CA-18) urged the President to recognize the strong link between the ongoing housing crisis and the stagnant job market. The Department of Labor announced today that the economy added no net new jobs in August and the unemployment rate remained at 9.1 percent. The strain on America’s workers is only exacerbated by the collapse of the housing market, Cardoza said. Millions of homeowners across the nation are “underwater,” owing more on their mortgage than their house is worth. In Cardoza’s Central Valley, where, nearly 60% of all mortgages are underwater, the unemployment rate remains between 16-18% -- twice the national average. Cardoza has argued that the distressed economy, caused by the collapse of the housing market, can only begin to recover if the foreclosure crisis devastating middle-income families is first addressed. “Families are trapped by their mortgages,” said Congressman Cardoza. “They can’t pursue new job opportunities because they can’t afford to sell their homes at a huge loss and relocate. As long as the housing market remains in a downward spiral, unemployment will stay stubbornly high. “I urge the President and Congress to get our economy back on the right track by recognizing this link and adopting an aggressive, far-reaching housing assistance program like my Housing Opportunity and Mortgage Equity (HOME) Act.” The HOME Act (H.R. 363) would help up to 30 million struggling homeowners with mortgages backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac to benefit from current historically low market interest rates by allowing them to refinance for up to 40 years at a fixed single-digit rate. This would significantly lower the homeowner’s monthly mortgage payments, resulting in fewer foreclosures, while stabilizing the housing market and the national economy. “This is a national crisis. We need bold solutions to get the economy on the right track,” added Congressman Cardoza. “As we celebrate Labor Day, we should also keep in mind the millions of unemployed workers across the country who cannot find work to support their families, and are struggling to hold on to their homes.” # # #
WASHINGTON, DC – As today’s national monthly job numbers showed that unemployment remains stubbornly high, Congressman Dennis Cardoza (CA-18) urged the President to recognize the strong link between the ongoing housing crisis and the stagnant job market. The Department of Labor announced today that the economy added no net new jobs in August and the unemployment rate remained at 9.1 percent. The strain on America’s workers is only exacerbated by the collapse of the housing market, Cardoza said.
Millions of homeowners across the nation are “underwater,” owing more on their mortgage than their house is worth. In Cardoza’s Central Valley, where, nearly 60% of all mortgages are underwater, the unemployment rate remains between 16-18% – twice the national average. Cardoza has argued that the distressed economy, caused by the collapse of the housing market, can only begin to recover if the foreclosure crisis devastating middle-income families is first addressed.
“Families are trapped by their mortgages,” said Congressman Cardoza. “They can’t pursue new job opportunities because they can’t afford to sell their homes at a huge loss and relocate. As long as the housing market remains in a downward spiral, unemployment will stay stubbornly high.
“I urge the President and Congress to get our economy back on the right track by recognizing this link and adopting an aggressive, far-reaching housing assistance program like my Housing Opportunity and Mortgage Equity (HOME) Act.”
The HOME Act (H.R. 363) would help up to 30 million struggling homeowners with mortgages backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac to benefit from current historically low market interest rates by allowing them to refinance for up to 40 years at a fixed single-digit rate. This would significantly lower the homeowner’s monthly mortgage payments, resulting in fewer foreclosures, while stabilizing the housing market and the national economy.
“This is a national crisis. We need bold solutions to get the economy on the right track,” added Congressman Cardoza. “As we celebrate Labor Day, we should also keep in mind the millions of unemployed workers across the country who cannot find work to support their families, and are struggling to hold on to their homes.”
http://cardoza.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=87§iontree=6%2C87&itemid=800
California Democratic Party Convention 2012
San Diego February 9-11
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
HIGH SPEED RAIL-AMERICA WANTS TO WORK!
HIGH SPEED RAIL-AMERICA WANTS TO WORK!
WHEN: Wednesday, September, 7th, 6:30p.m.
WHERE: Harvest Hall, 3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto, CA 95358
INFO:
Hear from business, agriculture, environmentalists, and Building and Construction Trades workers about California High Speed Rail. The time to build is now. Each day we wait cost California taxpayers and but also jobs to operate and maintain California High Speed Rail. And even more jobs – hundreds of them, delays tens of thousands of good, family-supporting jobs – jobs which, not only build the trains and rails, including suppliers, food service and retail, and other small businesses and primary job creators.
So come and find out about jobs and California High Speed Rail. Key Note Speaker - Bob Balgenorth Member, California High Speed Rail Authority,President, State Building and Construction Trade Council.
For more information, please call (209)522-4900 North Valley Labor Federation Sponsors www.northvalleylabor.org
WHEN: Wednesday, September, 7th, 6:30p.m.
WHERE: Harvest Hall, 3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto, CA 95358
INFO:
Hear from business, agriculture, environmentalists, and Building and Construction Trades workers about California High Speed Rail. The time to build is now. Each day we wait cost California taxpayers and but also jobs to operate and maintain California High Speed Rail. And even more jobs – hundreds of them, delays tens of thousands of good, family-supporting jobs – jobs which, not only build the trains and rails, including suppliers, food service and retail, and other small businesses and primary job creators.
So come and find out about jobs and California High Speed Rail. Key Note Speaker - Bob Balgenorth Member, California High Speed Rail Authority,President, State Building and Construction Trade Council.
For more information, please call (209)522-4900 North Valley Labor Federation Sponsors www.northvalleylabor.org
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
High-Speed Rail Reaches Out to Small Businesses
Posted at 02:11 PM on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2011
By Tim Sheehan / The Fresno Bee
Small-businesses owners can find out next month how they may get a taste of the $6.3 billion proposed to be spent building high-speed rail in the Valley.
The California High-Speed Rail Authority and the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation are co-hosting a Sept. 8 forum at the Save Mart Center at California State University, Fresno.
The rail authority plans to begin construction in late 2012 for the first stretches of its statewide, 800-mile train system. Building would begin in Fresno for a section between Fresno and Bakersfield.
The forum is intended to show Valley businesses the subcontracting opportunities with prime contractors or joint-venture teams, said Rachel Wall, a spokeswoman for the authority. As of Tuesday afternoon, about 120 companies were registered for the Fresno event.
Small businesses will be "essential to the development of the nation's first true high-speed rail system," said Roelof van Ark, the rail authority's CEO.
IF YOU GO
What: Small business forum for California's high-speed rail project
When: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 8
Where: Save Mart Center at California State University, Fresno
Details: Registration online at cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/forum.aspx
"California's high-speed rail project will be transformative - creating tens of thousands of jobs in the near term and making our state more economically competitive in the long term," van Ark said. "I'm looking forward to this opportunity to engage private industry and communicate directly with California's small businesses."
Representatives of about 50 companies in Fresno, Kings, Madera and Tulare counties attended a national industry forum in Los Angeles this year. The local firms ranged from construction companies, real-estate appraisers and engineering firms to real-estate appraisers, security companies and a T-shirt printer.
Officials suggest the high-speed rail project could result in as many as 16,500 construction-related jobs between 2012 and 2017.
Within the next couple of months, the authority will begin screening contractors' qualifications to build the project. It will seek formal bids next year for five Valley contracts.
The first contract would be for a segment from a new bridge over the San Joaquin River north of Fresno to American Avenue at the south edge of the city. The project, estimated to cost between $1 billion and $2 billion, includes 12 new overpasses or undercrossings, a tunnel and two elevated viaducts.
Three smaller contracts are planned to prepare for tracks from Fresno to Hanford; Hanford to Wasco; and Wasco to the northwest edge of Bakersfield.
A fifth contractor would be responsible for building the actual tracks for the entire length of the section.
If future sections to Los Angeles and San Francisco are not built and high-speed trains never run, officials said, Amtrak trains could use the new tracks for faster, improved service through the Valley.
THE REPORTERCAN BE REACHED AT TSHEEHAN@FRESNOBEE.COMOR (559) 441-6319.
Read more: http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/08/16/2501521/high-speed-rail-reaches-out-to.html#ixzz1VEFme4qQ
By Tim Sheehan / The Fresno Bee
Small-businesses owners can find out next month how they may get a taste of the $6.3 billion proposed to be spent building high-speed rail in the Valley.
The California High-Speed Rail Authority and the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation are co-hosting a Sept. 8 forum at the Save Mart Center at California State University, Fresno.
The rail authority plans to begin construction in late 2012 for the first stretches of its statewide, 800-mile train system. Building would begin in Fresno for a section between Fresno and Bakersfield.
The forum is intended to show Valley businesses the subcontracting opportunities with prime contractors or joint-venture teams, said Rachel Wall, a spokeswoman for the authority. As of Tuesday afternoon, about 120 companies were registered for the Fresno event.
Small businesses will be "essential to the development of the nation's first true high-speed rail system," said Roelof van Ark, the rail authority's CEO.
IF YOU GO
What: Small business forum for California's high-speed rail project
When: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 8
Where: Save Mart Center at California State University, Fresno
Details: Registration online at cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/forum.aspx
"California's high-speed rail project will be transformative - creating tens of thousands of jobs in the near term and making our state more economically competitive in the long term," van Ark said. "I'm looking forward to this opportunity to engage private industry and communicate directly with California's small businesses."
Representatives of about 50 companies in Fresno, Kings, Madera and Tulare counties attended a national industry forum in Los Angeles this year. The local firms ranged from construction companies, real-estate appraisers and engineering firms to real-estate appraisers, security companies and a T-shirt printer.
Officials suggest the high-speed rail project could result in as many as 16,500 construction-related jobs between 2012 and 2017.
Within the next couple of months, the authority will begin screening contractors' qualifications to build the project. It will seek formal bids next year for five Valley contracts.
The first contract would be for a segment from a new bridge over the San Joaquin River north of Fresno to American Avenue at the south edge of the city. The project, estimated to cost between $1 billion and $2 billion, includes 12 new overpasses or undercrossings, a tunnel and two elevated viaducts.
Three smaller contracts are planned to prepare for tracks from Fresno to Hanford; Hanford to Wasco; and Wasco to the northwest edge of Bakersfield.
A fifth contractor would be responsible for building the actual tracks for the entire length of the section.
If future sections to Los Angeles and San Francisco are not built and high-speed trains never run, officials said, Amtrak trains could use the new tracks for faster, improved service through the Valley.
THE REPORTERCAN BE REACHED AT TSHEEHAN@FRESNOBEE.COMOR (559) 441-6319.
Read more: http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/08/16/2501521/high-speed-rail-reaches-out-to.html#ixzz1VEFme4qQ
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Considering a run for elected office?
What's involved in running for public office? How much time does it take? What does it cost? What are the rules? What are the enjoyable aspects and what are the uncomfortable parts? These are among the questions that will be answered in a free workshop July 9. It is open to anyone in our region considering seeking public office.
The Modesto Chamber of Commerce, The Bee, and activists from the Republican and Democratic parties have teamed up for more than a decade to offer these workshops. While the organizers don't have common views on many subjects, they do agree that voters benefit from having a choice among well-prepared candidates. The workshops are intended to help people become good candidates.
The workshop will be from 8:45 a.m. to noon July 9 at the Stanislaus County Nick W. Blom Salida Regional Library, 4835 Sisk Road, just off Highway 99.
Reservations are strongly suggested to assure sufficient materials. Contact the chamber office at (209) 577-5757 or mlopez@modchamber.org by Wednesday.
Read more: http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/04/1761366/considering-a-run-for-elected.html#ixzz1RFBGpzDr
The Modesto Chamber of Commerce, The Bee, and activists from the Republican and Democratic parties have teamed up for more than a decade to offer these workshops. While the organizers don't have common views on many subjects, they do agree that voters benefit from having a choice among well-prepared candidates. The workshops are intended to help people become good candidates.
The workshop will be from 8:45 a.m. to noon July 9 at the Stanislaus County Nick W. Blom Salida Regional Library, 4835 Sisk Road, just off Highway 99.
Reservations are strongly suggested to assure sufficient materials. Contact the chamber office at (209) 577-5757 or mlopez@modchamber.org by Wednesday.
Read more: http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/04/1761366/considering-a-run-for-elected.html#ixzz1RFBGpzDr
Monday, July 4, 2011
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Brown's Countdown, Day 172: California teachers win big in state budget deal
By Kevin Yamamura and Diana Lambert
Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/30/3737655/browns-countdown-day-172-california.html#ixzz1QlOjgBtn
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/30/3737655/browns-countdown-day-172-california.html#mi_rss=State%20Politics
Published: Thursday, Jun. 30, 2011 - 12:00 am | Page 1A
Teachers win layoff protection while school finance officials see their powers curtailed in the state budget package Gov. Jerry Brown is expected to sign today.
The last-minute school legislation, Assembly Bill 114, emerged publicly less than an hour before lawmakers approved it in a late-evening Tuesday session. It reflects the negotiating muscle of teachers as Democratic lawmakers crafted their majority-vote budget with a governor of their own party.
"This provides stability for students and teachers," said Dean E. Vogel, the new president of the California Teachers Association. He said the bill stems the tide of an estimated 30,000 job losses that teachers have faced since the recession began.
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/30/3737655/browns-countdown-day-172-california.html#mi_rss=State%20Politics
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Brown Vetoes Budget! (video)
SACRAMENTO -- Gov. Jerry Brown has vetoed the Democratic budget plan approved Wednesday in the Legislature, restarting talks over how to close California's $9.6 billion deficit.
The Democratic governor says he vetoed the entire set of budget bills passed by majority Democrats. It includes several provisions that would likely face a legal challenge, including imposing a $12 fee on vehicle registrations, a firefighting surcharge on rural residents and an extension of a hike in the sales tax.
He says the plan sent to his desk "will not stand the test of time."
The plan was widely seen as a placeholder until Brown could compromise with Republican lawmakers over whether to extend a series of expiring tax increases.Budget Veto Video
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_18289420?nclick_check=1
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